In the wake of a devastating terror attack in Sydney’s Bondi district, the diplomatic relationship between Australia and Israel has become the focus of intense national debate, as Israel’s President Isaac Herzog prepares for a State visit at the invitation of the Australian government. The decision to welcome President Herzog, announced after a conversation with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on December 23, 2025, has sparked both support and condemnation across Australia’s political and civil landscape.
The attack, which targeted the Australian Jewish community in Bondi just a week prior, left the nation reeling. President Herzog, in the aftermath, reached out directly to Prime Minister Albanese, expressing his "profound shock and dismay over the catastrophic terror attack" and conveying "heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and my prayers for a speedy recovery for all those injured," as reported by The Nightly. He emphasized the urgency of "taking all legal measures to combat the unprecedented rise in anti-Semitism, extremism, and jihadist terror."
Prime Minister Albanese, facing mounting pressure to reaffirm Australia’s relationship with its Jewish community and the State of Israel, confirmed that an invitation had been extended to President Herzog. "We’ve invited President Herzog, which is entirely appropriate for the head of state to visit," Albanese stated at a press conference, underscoring that the invitation was for Israel’s ceremonial president and not for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with whom Albanese has not spoken since the attack.
The invitation comes at a time when relations between Australia and Israel are under scrutiny, particularly after Australia’s decision to recognize Palestine as a state at the United Nations General Assembly in September. This move drew direct criticism from Netanyahu’s government, which blamed Albanese for straining ties. The Prime Minister’s handling of these sensitive diplomatic waters has drawn both commendation and criticism, reflecting the broader tensions at play both within Australia and internationally.
President Herzog’s role, while largely ceremonial, has taken on added significance in the current climate. The invitation for his visit will be formally issued by Governor-General Sam Mostyn, and the Israeli president has been urged to come to Australia to stand in solidarity with the Jewish community and offer condolences in person. Jeremy Leibler of the Australian Zionist Federation, who wrote to Herzog in the days following the Bondi attack, welcomed the confirmation of the visit, stating, "Inviting him to come to Australia to stand with a grieving nation and a shaken community... matters deeply, not only for our community, but for what it says about Australia’s relationship with Israel, its values and its stand against hatred and terrorism."
At a ceremony in Jerusalem marking one week since the Bondi attacks, Herzog addressed the Australian Jewish community directly. "I hope to be able to visit you all soon in Australia and bring you a message of love from the State of Israel, to hug you and console you on behalf of the nation and people of Israel. I know I will encounter great strength, warmth, and love of Israel from all of you," he said. Herzog added, "I want to say to the Jews of Australia: the people of Israel are with you. Despite thousands of miles between us, we feel your pain, we see your courage under fire, we share your sense of abandonment, shock and horror."
However, not all Australians view the invitation as a gesture of solidarity. On December 24, the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN) issued a strongly worded statement condemning the government’s decision to invite President Herzog. APAN described the move as "a grave moral failure and a direct insult to the hundreds of thousands of Australians who have spent more than two years protesting Israel’s ongoing genocide of Palestinians and demanding accountability under international law."
APAN’s statement challenged the notion that Herzog’s office is merely symbolic, asserting, "President Herzog is not a symbolic or ceremonial figure. As Israel’s Head of State throughout its genocidal assault on Gaza, he has made public statements widely condemned as genocidal intent, including asserting that an ‘entire nation’ bears responsibility and that ‘there are no innocent civilians in Gaza’ – language that legitimizes collective punishment and mass civilian killing." According to APAN, Herzog’s remarks have been cited in proceedings before the International Court of Justice as evidence of incendiary rhetoric, and he has "openly rejected Palestinian self-determination, declaring that a two-state solution would be a ‘reward to terrorists.’"
The advocacy group also expressed concerns that Australians could be prevented from protesting Herzog’s visit and might even face criminal charges, a move APAN sees as "a dangerous escalation that erodes democratic freedoms to shield a visiting foreign leader from accountability." Their statement concluded emphatically: "Australia must not welcome those who are active participants and proponents of Israel’s genocide and not reward war crimes with diplomatic invitations, nor suppress dissent to shield them from scrutiny."
This controversy underscores the deep divisions within Australian society over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as the broader challenge of balancing international diplomacy with domestic sentiment. While many in the Jewish community see Herzog’s visit as a vital show of support and unity in the aftermath of tragedy, others—particularly those sympathetic to the Palestinian cause—view it as an endorsement of Israeli policies they find deeply objectionable.
Amid these political cross-currents, Prime Minister Albanese has also faced calls from the Jewish community, the Opposition, and some members of his own Labor Party to establish a royal commission into the Bondi terror attack. Albanese, however, has resisted these demands, arguing that such an inquiry "would take too long" and noting that no royal commission was held for other major tragedies like the Port Arthur massacre or the Lindt Cafe siege under previous governments.
The debate over Herzog’s visit is not occurring in a vacuum. It comes at a time when Australia, like much of the world, is grappling with the rise of anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and the polarizing effects of global conflicts on domestic politics. The Bondi attack has amplified concerns about the safety of minority communities and the responsibilities of government to protect them, while also highlighting the complexities of international alliances and the expectations placed on national leaders in moments of crisis.
As the date of President Herzog’s visit approaches, the eyes of both supporters and critics will be on the Australian government’s handling of protests, security, and public discourse. The visit itself is poised to become a defining moment in Australia’s ongoing debate over its place in the world, its values, and its commitment to both security and democratic freedoms.
For now, the nation waits—some with hope, others with anger—as leaders navigate a path between solidarity and scrutiny, mourning and protest, diplomacy and dissent.
